The ISBN code
The ISBN code( International Standard Book Number) serves as an identity label for books all over the world.
Since January 2007, it is composed of 13 digits, split into 5 parts which are separated by hyphens.

Éditions Casterman
Les Aventures de Tintin
Vol 714 pour Sydney |
The first part 978 means that it is a book.
The second part identifies the country, region or language code.
0 et 1 |
2 |
88 |
90 |
982 |
anglophone
countries |
francophone
countries |
italophone
countries |
The Netherlands,
Belgium and Flemish |
South
Pacific |
The third part identifies the publisher, and the fourth part refers to the book. |
The last digit is a control to make sure the following rule is adhered to :
Example using ISBN 978-2-203-00121-6
Multiply the first digit by 1, the second by 3,
the third by 1, the fourth by 3 etc...
up to the twelfth digit.
|
9;21;8;6;2;0;3;0;0;3;2;3
|
Work out the sum, S of these 12 numbers. |
S = 9 + 21 + 8 + 6 +2 + 3+ 3 + 2 + 3 = 57 |
Work out the remainder, R of the division of S by 10. |
R = 7 |
|